Improvement in cabinets for dentists use



NTE STATES THOMAS .ooeSwELL, on BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN CABINETS FOR DENTISTS USE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,501, dated February 9, 1875; application riled October 15, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS OJGSWELL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Cabinet, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to produce a case or cabinet which is designed more particularly for dentists use; and the invention consists in so constructing the case or cabinet as to admit of the trays or shelves which contain the tools 'and instruments to be readily and compactly closed when not in use, and as easily opened and displayed for use when required. The invention further consists in the peculiar means of holding the lids of the case in an open position. The invention further consists of-a shelf having a beveled under side, and attached to a door which closes a compartment at the side of the cabinet, said shelf serving to cover the mouth of an inkstand which is arranged in the compartment upon an elastic base, all of which will be hereinafter fully described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the cabinet with the lid and one side door open. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section, and Fig. 3 is a section of one side of the cabinet with the lid closed.

Similar letters of reference indicatelike parts in the several figures.

The cabinet may be made in one or two parts or compartments, each part being provided with apartments and arranged for separate uses, as may be required. It is mounted on a spindle, b, which sits in a stand, a, so as to admit of the cabinet being easily rotated. Provision may be made for raising and lowering the cabinet .by means of a ring and setscrew, in a manner well known. In one side of the cabinet is a series of trays or shelves, h h h, pivoted at each end to two parallel bars, c z, the said bars being pivoted at their lower ends within the ease, in such a manner that, in whatever position the bars it may be placed, from a vertical to a horizontal one, the trays it will always maintain a level position. When in use the trays are brought to a horizontal position, side by side, over the open lid, and when the bars M are in a vertical position the trays assume a position one above the other, as shown in Fig. 1,

with room for other removable trays k k be tween them. d d are the lids hinged to the lower portion of the cabinet. 6 e are bars of metal pivoted to the lower inner ends of each compartment. The outer end of the bar is formed with a hook, which projects within a slotted plate, f, attached to each inner end of the lid. The curved end of the bar 0 is provided with pins projecting from each side, which retain it within the slotted plate, so as to allow of a free movement of the bar in the slotted plate as the lid is opened and closed. The lid is securely held in an open position by means of the hook on the end of the bar in the slotted plate. As the lid is closed the end of the bar 6 moves up in the slotted plate, and assumes the position shown in Fig. 3. On each side of the cabinet is a small compartment, 0, provided with doors I. In these compartments may be placed bottles a, or an inkstand, resting upon a spring, as shown in Fig. 1. On

the inner side of the door l is attached a shelf or piece, m, for the purpose of covering the bottle when the door is closed. The under part of the front of the shelf m is beveled, so

that, when closing over the mouth of the bottle or inkstand, it will force the bottle down and bring the fiat part of the shelf directly upon the mouth of the bottle, and thus securely close it. Any number of bottles may be similarly arranged in these side apartments, as desired.

One side of the cabinet is shown as provided with the movable trays adapted for dentists use, and the other side is provided with shelves 1? p and a tilting envelope-holder, q, the lid, in this case, to be used as a writingdesk. Both sides may, however, be furnished with movable trays and parallel bars, if more room is required for tools and instruments.

Although the adjustable trays are designed more particularly for dentists use, it is evident that they can be used for any other purpose where such an arrangement of parts may be convenient or desirable.

This cabinet, besides combining so many useful appliances, is made to constitute a shapely and beautiful article of furniture adapted as well to the parlor or other apartment in the house as to the oflice of a professional or business man. It can be mounted on a stand of suffi cient height for use, or may be adapted to be placed upon a table.

The cabinet may be made either single or double, as desired. Instead of the two bars it, to which the trays are attached, only one bar may be used, and the trays be secured 011 one end to the inner side of the lid, so as to operate in the same manner as with the two bars. The slotted plate f may be dispensed with, and a single groove formed in each end of the lid, to allow the hooked end to slide in, the hook being made to catch under a metal plate at the inner end of the groove, and the weight of the bar being sufficient to keep the end of the bar within the groove. Its forwardly-inclined position, when thelidis closed, allows it to readily follow the movement of the lid as it is opened.

I am aware that frames having sliding drawers have been pivoted to the hinged leaf of a sewing-machine table, and also to a rod connecting the drawer-frame together, so that the hinged leaf could be dropped to the side of the machine and the drawers retain their original position; but such is not my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The pivoted bar e,withahook on its outer end, and the holding-plate f, in combination with the folding lid of the cabinet, as described.

2. The shelves hand the bars'ii, pivoted to the lower part of the cabinet, in combination with the cabinet and folding lid, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The shelf m, beveled on its under side, as shown, and attached to the door I, in combination with an elastically-supported bottleinkstand, as and for the purpose described.

4. A cabinet or case constructed with the movable shelves h and bars 'i, the shelves k, and the folding lid d, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. OOGSWELL. 

